Once married, the Shaws began to look for houses, and finally settled on the large rectory in Ayot St Lawrence. They used this house for the rest of their lives, living here during the weekend and returning to London on a Wednesday.
It suited them, being so close to London, but yet providing the peace and quiet which Shaw needed for his writing. With Charlotte providing stability and organisation for his life, Shaw wrote nearly a play a year until 1920. He also wrote reams of newspaper columns and political works, and was continually called upon for comment and opinion.
He complained that he could not stick his head out of the window at Ayot St Lawrence without someone taking a picture of him - he was one of the world's most photographed and portrayed men.
Charlotte died in 1943.
Shaw, who missed her more than he thought he would and admitted he had never really known her, sold the flat, transferring much of the contents there to Shaw's Corner. He contacted the Secretary of the National Trust to arrange to leave the house and contents to the NT on his death.
He carried on writing, producing the 'Rhyming Guide to Ayot St Lawrence' in 1950. This description of the village in which he had lived for 44 years was illustrated with his own photographs. In the summer of 1950, he fell in the garden, having been pruning one of the fruit trees. He broke his leg and was taken to hospital, where it was discovered that he had a long-standing kidney disease. Although he was brought home in October 1950, Shaw died here on 2nd November 1950.
'From the coffers of his genius, he enriched the world.'
- Note pinned on the gate by Mrs Laden, the housekeeper, on announcing his death.
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